City Council, November 10, 2021

 

A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council is held Wednesday, November 10, 2021, at 7:38 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI. 

 

Present – President Moran, Councilors Araujo, DaRosa, Gregor, Mercer, Schuette, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

 

Absent – 0.

 

President Moran presides.

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MERCER.

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Gregor, the agenda is amended to include the following communication, which is READ AND ORDERED FILED on a unanimous voice vote:

 

Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Appointment of New Members to the Mayor’s Community Board)

 

 

THE CITY COUNCIL RECESSES AT 7:39 P.M.  TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FOLLOWING:

 

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A 10-YEAR TAX STABILIZATION AGREEMENT FOR SAFSTOR MINERAL SPRING LLC FOR THE PROPERTY AT 602 MINERAL SPRING AVENUE (AP51 LOT 249)

 

THE COUNCIL RECONVENES AT 7:46 P.M.

 

 

The reading of the records of the October 20, 2021 Ordinance Committee meeting, Finance Committee meeting and City Council meeting is dispensed with and the records are APPROVED as prepared by the Clerk.

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Araujo, the *Consent Agenda is APPROVED on a unanimous voice vote:

 

*THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE READ AND ORDERED FILED:

 

028      A.     Communication from Nellie M. Gorbea, Secretary of State, to the Honorable David P. Moran, Council President. (Central Voter Registration System)

           

622      B.     Communication from William Vieira, Director, Zoning & Code Enforcement, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Response – Slater House)

           

            D.     Communication from Daniel J. Kroeber, PE, Director of Development, Fortuitous Partners, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council, Submitting an Application for a Tax Stabilization Agreement for Tidewater Landing – Tidewater Stadium IS REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

           

            E.      Communication from Jay Rosa, Assistant Director of Planning & Redevelopment, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Tidewater Landing Urban Coastal Greenway (UCG) Easement with RI Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) on Taft Street - AP54 L827) IS REFERRED TO THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE.

           

            F.      DRAFT – RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN EASEMENT WITH THE COASTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (CRMC) DEPARTMENT AND AGENCY OF THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND, FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 0 TAFT STREET (AP54 L827) – IS REFERRED TO THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE.

           

            G.     Communication from David Clemente, Public Works Director, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Bulky Waste Ordinance Change) IS REFERRED TO THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE AND ORDINANCE COMMITTEE.

           

            H.     THE FOLLOWING CLAIM FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY IS REFERRED TO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND RI INTERLOCAL TRUST:

Domenic Vincent, Vincent Greco, Jr. and Joseph Greco by James P. Howe, Esq. –

No Amount Specified

                    

            I.       THE FOLLOWING CLAIM FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY IS REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS:

William Cedano - $120.00

 

623      C.     Communication from Sara Miranda, PHR, Human Resources Coordinator, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Response – Election Activities/Fire Utilization Analysis) is READ AND ORDERED FILED.

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR GREGOR.

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Gregor, seconded by Councilor Wildenhain, the agenda is amended to include the following communication, which is READ AND ORDERED FILED on a unanimous voice vote:

 

1       Communication from Tina Goncalves, Chief of Police, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Fire Utilization Analysis)

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN.

 

With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, seconded by Councilor Araujo, is PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:

 

The Clerk is instructed to set up a Finance Committee meeting on December 6, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. and to invite the Administration, Karen Grande, Esq. from Bond Counsel and Erin Dube, School Committee Chair, to discuss the City’s bond capacity for the building of a unified high school.   The Committee will also discuss the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds received and what they are to be used for.

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING REQUEST IS INDEFINITELY POSTPONED, AS THE REQUESTOR HAS ALREADY BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A TAX-EXEMPT CHURCH, ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Araujo, DaRosa, Gregor, Mercer, Schuette, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

 

NOES – 0.

 

028   Communication from Nana Ewiafom II, Apostolic Church Boston Assembly, to the City Clerk’s Office. (Tax Exemption for Church) 

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION IS TAKEN UP:

 

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET TO TAKE APPROPRIATE STEPS TO ACQUIRE FROM THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND ALL RIGHT, TITLE AND INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 160 BEECHWOOD AVE, AP35 L51, 52, 360.

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR ARAUJO.

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Araujo, seconded by Councilor Schuette, the following AMENDMENT is introduced at the recommendation of the City Property Committee and is PASSED on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Araujo, DaRosa, Gregor, Mercer, Schuette, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

 

NOES – 0.

 

Amend the following:

 

Amend the first line beginning with “Whereas…” and the line beginning with “Now, Therefore, be it Resolved…” by changing Plat 35A to Plat 35.

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION IS READ AS AMENDED, AND PASSED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Araujo, DaRosa, Gregor, Mercer, Schuette, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

 

NOES – 0.

 

588   RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET TO TAKE APPROPRIATE STEPS TO ACQUIRE FROM THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND ALL RIGHT, TITLE AND INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 160 BEECHWOOD AVE, AP35 L51, 52, 360, AS AMENDED.

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION IS READ AND PASSED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Araujo, DaRosa, Gregor, Mercer, Schuette, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

 

NOES – 0.

 

588   RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A 10-YEAR TAX STABILIZATION AGREEMENT FOR SAFSTOR MINERAL SPRING LLC FOR THE PROPERTY AT 602 MINERAL SPRING AVENUE (AP51 LOT 249)

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION IS READ AND PASSED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Araujo, DaRosa, Gregor, Mercer, Schuette, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

 

NOES – 0.

 

588   RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE TO SEEK A LEASE PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR THE FY2022 EQUIPMENT LEASE LIST 

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION IS READ AND PASSED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Araujo, DaRosa, Gregor, Mercer, Schuette, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

 

NOES – 0.

 

588   RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT FOR A TWO-YEAR TERM FINANCE LEASE WITH TD EQUIPMENT FINANCE 

 

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION IS READ AND PASSED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Araujo, DaRosa, Gregor, Mercer, Schuette, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

 

NOES – 0.

 

588   RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF AN EQUIPMENT LEASE /PURCHASE AGREEMENT, AND RELATED INSTRUMENTS, FUNDING OF THE FY2022 LEASE PURCHASE EQUIPMENT LIST PLUS RELATED EXPENSES

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DAROSA.

 

With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor DaRosa, seconded by Councilor Vasquez, is PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Frank J. Milos, Jr., Esq., City Solicitor, regarding the letter from him dated September 30, 2021 regarding the Law Department’s annual report.  In his letter he stated that there are certain categories of legal matters not included in the report.  The council wants to know if he will be providing that information to them.   Councilor DaRosa stated that she would like him to make that information available to the council if that was his intention.

 

 

UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENT TO THE ORDINANCE ENTITLED “AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 364 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996, “TELECOMMUNICATIONS” (SMALL WIRELESS FACILITIES)” IS APPROVED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Araujo, DaRosa, Gregor, Mercer, Schuette, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

 

NOES – 0.

 

Amend the following:

 

Section 364-41– “Collocation of Small Wireless Facilities on Municipal Poles Outside the ROW or on Municipal Structures”:

 

(C) …On request of the City, Such wireless provider shall provide certificates of insurance or other evidence of the above coverage.  Such a provider may self-insure any required coverage as long as it or its parent maintains a net worth of at least $200 million.

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE IS READ FOR THE FIRST TIME, AS AMENDED, AND PASSED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Araujo, DaRosa, Gregor, Mercer, Schuette, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

 

NOES – 0.

 

AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 364 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996, “TELECOMMUNICATIONS” (SMALL WIRELESS FACILITIES), AS AMENDED

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS THE FOLLOWING CLAIM FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY IS DENIED AND CLAIMANT IS TO CONTACT CARDI CORPORATION, ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Araujo, DaRosa, Gregor, Mercer, Schuette, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

 

NOES – 0.

 

Liberty Rentals – Under $2500, pending estimates

 

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, seconded by the Entire City Council, the meeting is adjourned in honor of Jeanne Boyle, who recently retired as Commerce Director, at 8:08 p.m.